GRADE Modeler

- News and History -

New features

Voice annotation export in HTML format

Check spelling
Click on a text in a GRADE diagram, then open the popup menu and select Check spelling to call http://www.spellcheck.net/cgi-bin/spell.exe

Extensions to export in HTML format
Now, transfer object (channel) tables can be opened from the exported CO diagrams by clicking on communication paths.

External link names (from EXT table) allowed in <<<�>>> references

Several tasks with a common decision
It is now allowed.

Anchoring free comments to diagram elements
In any diagram, try drawing any line between a free comment symbol and a diagram element.

Hide empty BPs in the model tree
Select Options � Settings and mark Hide empty BPs. As the result, BPs and TDs of elementary tasks will disappear from the model tree.

Setting up default symbol size in stereotypes
In the Stereotype Table Entry dialog, press the Style button, and set the size in the Box style tab.

Translating/correcting names in the model

Changing the table column header font
Select Options � Settings - Diagrams, press the Headings button, and set the desired font.

Individual coloring of each text in symbol styles and stereotypes implemented.
Before, a single text color was defined for all texts of a diagram element.

Copy/paste available in GLO, STE, PIC, TAB, EXT.

Stereotypes available in CO and ER diagrams
Create a new model and open STE. Or, in an existing model, select Options � Restore default stereotypes, and open STE.

Scrolling to end of line in large diagrams
Select the line by clicking on it, and press the ?-key.

Looking up in Dictionary.com
In a diagram, click the right mouse button on any word, and select Look up from the popup menu. This will open http://dictionary.reference.com/search?

Working with mouse wheel in GRADE
To enable mouse wheel in GRADE, you must install the supporting software, for example, FreeWheel by Jim Barry (download version 2.4 at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2060/freewheel.html), and set the focus mode to �scroll the window underneath the mouse pointer�.

June 20, 2001:

If you experience problems�using GRADE under Windows 2000, please, download a 350KB hotfix from http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q288/1/65.ASP

May 12, 2001:

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.16 available

New features:

Improved export in HTML format - pages look better.

Importing relational databases into UML class diagrams.

September 11, 2000:

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.15 available

New features:

New option in the Symbol Style dialog: hiding of attribute keywords (Task, Description, Availablity, Competency etc.)

Additional customization options for export in HTML format (do not export GLO, STE, TAG, do not show diagram types, do not show links to glossary or dictionary, do not use dictionary at all, etc.)

Now you can avoid automatic creation of large numbers of TD diagrams, when new tasks are inserted in BP diagrams. Simply switch off the Auto BP->TDs checkbox in the User Settings dialog.

July 24, 2000:

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.14 available

New features:

Component models introduced.

July 14, 2000:

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.13 (Lucky) available

New features:

Custom columns in glossary (GLO table): the user is now allowed to add new columns and specify their header texts.

Inline (nameless) tasks in BP diagrams.

ORG, DD and BP diagrams in UML packages.

New constructs supported in ORG diagrams:

Person symbols, function symbols, user defined attributes
Layout with Assistant(s)

Double Sided Layout


First priority error fixed:

Sporadic installation crash problem (the famous "ISINST30") solved.

GRADE 4.0.12: Enjoy More Freedom When Modeling

Holzkirchen, April 11, 2000 -� The GRADE Modeler 4.0.12, released today, lets you enjoy even greater freedom when creating GRADE models.

For example, you can now define customized tables. If you are modeling the organizational structure of a university, go ahead and add tables showing this year's and last year's budgets, the number of students and faculty in each department, etc. These tables appear in the model tree in the form of TAB diagrams.

Stereotypes, which up to now could be used only in UML class diagrams, are now also available for business modeling. For example, define a stereotype to distinguish employees who have some special skill. That way, these employees are identifiable at a glance, even in a very large organizational structure diagram.

In addition, you can define customized symbol palettes for many GRADE diagrams. If you want to define a new default color for organizational units, go ahead and do so, then specify a corresponding icon in the symbol palette. When you want to use the new symbol, simply click on the corresponding icon, then in the diagram itself. It's that simple.

And it's now even easier to add special graphics to your GRADE diagrams. The PIC table, which is a part of every model, comes pre-loaded with dozens of pictures to choose from. You'll find computer-related graphics, icons to use as links to Web sites, etc.

Don't forget to check out the external-link feature. Recently updated, this feature can be used to link a diagram element to

• a Web site (or any other Internet address)
• a document (e.g., a Microsoft Word or Excel document, an audio or video file)�
• an entry in the model's glossary
• an executable program, or
• another diagram.

April 11, 2000:

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.12 available

New features:

Stereotypes in business modeling diagrams (until now, in GRADE, stereotypes could be used only in UML class diagrams).

Stereotype driven diagram iconbars (custom symbol palettes).

Custom tables (until now, only specific purpose tables were used in GRADE - event tables, transfer object tables, class tables, etc.).

First priority errors fixed:

System crashes during export from GRADE Modeler to GRADE Registrator.

System crashes when very large filters are used in GRADE Trace Browser.

February 14, 2000:

GRADE Modeler 4.0 free 15 day full function trial version available

February 8, 2000:

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.11 available

New features:

The Renaissance of graphical (GUI) screen forms: using screen forms in business modeling.

Better tuning and extensions of external links (see below) in GRADE diagrams.

First priority error fixed:

Problems with Russian help files under Windows NT.

December 17, 1999:

miniGRADE update 4.0.10 available

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.10 available

New features:

For non-English users: System font button.

Inserting GIF pictures in GRADE diagrams (until now only WMF pictures could be inserted).
Now you can use large photographs as parts of diagrams and "talking" presentation slides.

Inserting arbitrary external links (URLs, links to document files, pictures, audio and video
files, EXE- and DLL-calls) in all GRADE diagrams symbols. These links work (by double
clicking) during GRADE sessions and after export in HTML format as well.

You can use explicit links - constructs like
<<<http://www.google.com>>>
<<<mailto:support@gradetools.com>>>
<<<c:\leaders\boss.html>>>
<<<c:\grade4\license.txt>>>
<<<c:\grade4\bam\anim.hlp>>>
<<<c:\ppp\program.exe>>>
<<<GLO item_name>> (linking to glossary)
in GRADE diagrams and tables everywhere you can.

And you can use iconized links attached to diagram symbols (boxes and lines). Proceed as
follows: select New external link from the pop-up menu of the symbol, select icon, enter link
text directly, or browse for a file or executable. The icon will "travel" with the owner symbol as
you move it.

You can define reusable links in the External Link Table (EXT), and reference them by
names when defining iconized links in diagrams.

October 8, 1999

miniGRADE available online

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.9 available

New feature:

"Talking" diagrams (presentations)

Tip of the day: detecting clusters in large diagrams

August 2, 1999

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.8.1 available

First priority error fixed:

Trace Browser crash when trying to filter a BM trace table

New features:

Improved export in HTML format (see the above web publishing example or download trial version and try out):
����- exact navigation from diagrams to dictionary entries,
����- exact navigation from dictionary to table diagrams,
����- navigation from class catalog to dictionary entries,
����- "jump to letter" facility for large dictonaries,
����- export of STE and TAG tables.

Tip of the day: Web/Intranet publishing

example #1 (Automatic Teller Machine),
example #2 (Airport Check-In Procedures),
example #3 (Order Processing).

These 3 sets of web pages have been obtained simply by selecting the GRADE menu command "Export in HTML format". Try navigation from diagram to diagram by clicking on boxes and lines.

July 1, 1999

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.8 available

First priority error fixed:

Sporadic syntax analyzer crashes during analysis of extremely erroneous models

New features:

UML package management

Export of GRADE models to Rational Rose. See two examples.

March 15, 1999

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.7 available

New features:

Stereotype management for UML class diagrams (stereotype table STE, style of class and association symbols - their shape, color, fonts etc. - will be determined by stereotypes assigned to them)

Tagged value management for UML class diagrams (tag table TAG)

Exporting model dictionary in HTML format. To see an example: click here


First priority errors fixed:

Sporadic "empty table" error in Trace Browser

Animator crash after a long simulation session

December 1, 1998

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.6 available

New features:

Customizing of GRADE generated HTML pages (changing file extensions, TITLEs, BODY settings, inserting additional HTML text pieces - server side includes etc.)

New installation process design

October 1, 1998

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.5 available

New features:

Additional line style elements (free selectable shapes of line ends, arrow types etc.)

HTML links in graphical GRADE diagrams

New dictionary function "Select similar names"

Improved export to HTML (tables and comment diagrams exported as texts, not as pictures, i.e. any HTML features available in these diagrams)

June 16, 1998

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.4 available

New features:

Glossary

Additional symbol style elements (free selectable shapes, 3D boxes etc.)

April 23, 1998

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.3 available

New features:

MS Excel macros supporting analysis of simulation results

Decentralized development support

Detecting clusters in large diagrams

Oblique lines

Global variables in simulatable business models

Views and view maintenance for class diagrams

UML notation support in class diagrams

Class diagram export to object definiton language (ODL) of the coming Object Database Standard (ODMG 2.0)

January 6, 1998

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.2 available

New feature: rearranging diagram contents to make it more compact, vertical or horizontal

Edit - Reposition - Compact (for CL, BP, CO, SD only)
This command tries to optimize the automatic layout of the diagram in order to make it more compact.

Edit - Reposition - Vertical / Horizontal (for CL only)
This command tries to optimize the automatic layout of the diagram in order to make its orientation more vertical / horizontal.

November 24, 1997

GRADE Modeler 4.0 update 4.0.1 available

November 1, 1997

GRADE Modeler 4.0 available

May 8, 1997

GRADE 3.0 update 3.0.6.7 available

��This upgrade will upgrade any configuration of GRADE, with version number 3.0.6.0 or later, to the current release stand 3.0.6.7. If you have any doubts about your version number, open the "About" menu in the GRADE window. This displays the release level of GRADE you are currently using.
��The upgrade can be installed from the File Manager or Windows Program Manager by launching the "SETUP.EXE" file. You will not require your license string to install the upgrade. It is recommended that you restart Windows prior to beginning the upgrade, to ensure that no other applications are running at that time.
��This upgrade includes the following changes/corrections:

Modeler

1. New menu item "Reanalyze all diagrams" introduced in the model tree window.
2. Refinement in the Data Dictionary window: input and output events contained in TSD diagrams are now displayed as separate groups of names.
3. Corrected error: Modeler ends with GPF when opening a diagram which contains very long warnings after the preparation phase of the BM Simulator.
4. Corrected error: Invalid export to EIF of the END-option from TCD diagrams.
5. Corrected error: excessive type column width in SP diagrams.
6. Corrected error: Modeler ends with GPF when opening empty statistics after PD level prototyping.
7. Corrected error: Modeler detects "low disk space" before syntax analysis, if the free disk space exceeds 1GB.

Simulator and Trace Browser:

1. Corrected error: In BM Simulator, in the gaugeboard of type Model Time, if you set the critical value to a date later than the Start Time but less than System (Personal Computer) Time, you get an error
2. Corrected error: When you export the trace in a file, without any attributes, setting all the options to avoid exporting attributes.
3. Corrected error: on long traces over 32000 entries, the trace appears in the browser in the correct manner.
4. Corrected error: on long traces, the new segments after 32000 do not overwrite the previous segments but are appended to them.
5. Corrected error: When filtering traces according to system time, errors occured when the Find command was used.
6. Corrected error: When filtering Trace Browser values, the starting and end system time values were ocassionally incorrect. The start system time corresponds to the start of the first trace, and the end can be no greater than the time moment at which simulation is terminated.

Warning: Under Windows NT, the Trace Browser will occasionally show empty trace tables. We hope to provide a patch to solve this problem in the near future.